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'Edward Anthony Masen Cullen', also known as Edward Cullen, is a fictional character in the ''Twilight'' series by Stephenie Meyer. He is featured in the books ''Twilight'', ''New Moon'', ''Eclipse'', '' Breaking Dawn'' and ''Midnight Sun.

Contents

Personal history

''Twilight''

''New Moon''

Physical appearance

Romantic relationships

Isabella Swan, "Bella," is Edward's first and only girlfriend. Edward fell for Bella despite his apprehensions and constant struggles to keep her safe. Edward has a strong attraction to Bella's blood--much more than he is attracted to other human blood--making it extremely difficult for Edward even to be in her presence. Early on in ''Twilight'', Edward struggled to stay away and ignore Bella in an attempt to protect her, but he eventually caved in and fell in love with her. He begins keeping a close watch on her to make sure she is safe, and even admits to sneaking in through her window at night to watch her sleep (and listen to her sleep-talking.) In ''New Moon'', the Volturi tell Edward that Bella is his "singer" (la tua cantante), because her blood "sings" for him. Eventually, Edward becomes able to resist her blood and forms a romantic relationship with her. Edward loves Bella deeply and would do anything for her, even going so far as to try to commit suicide after hearing about her 'death', refusing to live without her. This experience causes Edward to be revolted at the very thought of drinking Bella's blood. But as much as he loves her, Edward refuses to change Bella into a vampire, despite her strong desire to become one, because of his strong belief that vampires are the damned and soulless and his fears that Bella would be subject to the same fate. However, at the end of ''New Moon'', Bella brings the matter to a vote with the other Cullens and it is decided that she will be turned into a vampire after graduation by Carlisle, unless she marries Edward. Then Edward, himself, will change her as soon as they are wed. In ''Eclipse'' Edward suggests to drop Bella's side of the compromise but Bella refuses saying she wants to do this in her own definition of 'right', and the two become engaged at the end of the novel.

Rosalie was originally created into a vampire by Carlisle in hope that she would become Edward's love, but they have never shared any feelings closer than that of siblings. Although she does not desire Edward in a romantic way, she admits to being jealous of Bella, because she as a mere human was able to capture Edward's love and attention, when she, Rosalie, as a beautiful immortal, could not. Rosalie's past is very dark however, in it she always craved growing up and having beautiful children of her own and this desire has only increased in vampire form. She is jealous and angry at Bella at the same time for giving up her chance at a normal life and any chances of having children.

Vampire Traits

Movie Portrayal

References

See also

External links

Personal history

Edward Anthony Masen Cullen was born on June 20, 1901 to Edward and Elizabeth Masen. While dying of the Spanish influenza in Chicago in 1918, he was changed into a vampire by a doctor named Carlisle Cullen (due to an indirect request made by his dying mother). Carlisle believed that Elizabeth sensed that he was different somehow and asked him do "what others cannot do" to save her son's life. As a human, Edward was very sensitive to the thoughts of the people around him, and when he was changed, he gained the ability to read others' minds. Ten years after he became a vampire, Edward rebelled against Carlisle's practice of drinking animals' blood instead of humans' and left. Since he could read minds, he purposefully sought out and preyed on only the worst of society, which was how he justified his actions to himself. However, after a few years, he became guilt-ridden, realized that Carlisle was right, and returned home. He has not strayed since. Later, while living in Forks, Washington and attending the high school there, he meets Isabella "Bella" Swan. He soon discovers that he is practically unable to resist the smell of her blood, which is intoxicating to him. He vows to avoid her, but fate intervenes. He learns to control himself as he falls head over heels in love with her and she does the same for him. Over the period that they spend together, she discovers what he is and, to Edward's surprise, isn't repulsed. She accepts him and his family.

''Twilight''

On Bella's first day at Forks High School, Edward notices that he is unable to read Bella's mind and is frustrated. Later, in Biology (the only class he has with Bella), he is nearly overwhelmed by the scent of her blood, to the point of contemplating killing everyone else in the classroom so there would be no witnesses to her death. Edward is resentful and angry that Bella could make him lose the control he'd built for years so easily. In hopes of preventing a calamity, he doesn't acknowledge her, even though she is sitting next to him, and when the bell rings, he is the first person out of class. After school, he tries to transfer out of Biology, but when Bella walks into the office, that same desire to drink her blood nearly overcomes him. To avoid doing something he would later regret, he leaves quickly and drives to Alaska.
After a week away, Edward returns to school, determined not to allow the new girl to disrupt the life he and his family have created in Forks. Edward, now prepared to resist Bella's tempting blood, starts to converse with Bella in class, although she notices his fists balled up with tension. But the day after his return, Bella is nearly hit by Tyler Crowley's van. In a split-second decision, he saves her life using his supernatural speed and strength in public, risking exposure of not only himself but his entire family. Bella witnesses his abilities and becomes suspicious while his family's reactions range from disapproval to fury. Because of Bella's suspicions, Edward ends all contact with her for about six weeks until he can't take it anymore, saying that he's tired of trying to stay away from her. They become friends, sitting and talking together at lunch. While socializing with teenagers of the nearby Quileute tribe, Bella notes that they hint at the Cullens not being allowed on their reservation. She meets Jacob Black, the son of her father's friend, and tricks him into telling her tribal legends by flirting outrageously. He says that Quileutes were believed to be descended from werewolves and that the Cullen family (vampires) moved into the area years ago. They made a treaty with the werewolves: the vampires must not bite or kill a human or enter the reservation, and the werewolves must not expose the vampires for what they are. Bella is shocked and terrified as she finally comes to terms with this strange reality, but by that point they're in too deep. It is too late for either of them to stay away from the other. When Bella is interrogated by Jessica about her relationship with Edward, she tells her they are secretly dating as opposed to a truth no one will believe.
Being with Edward is a lethal risk for Bella because he must constantly fight his desire for her blood as well as the fact that he could very easily kill her without meaning to. He constantly warns Bella against being with him but she ignores him. His fears become justified when, during a Cullen family baseball game in the woods, a group of human blood drinking vampires smell Bella. Edward can hear that one of them, a tracker called James, has decided he must kill Bella. Terrified for her safety, the whole Cullen family splits up to confuse James. Alice and Jasper (Edward's siblings) take Bella to a hotel room in Phoenix, where they wait to see if the others have destroyed James, which is their intention. James, however, is clever, and eludes the others and tricks Bella into thinking that he has her mother. He uses this to get her to come to him. He decides to kill her slowly, and this gives the Cullens time to find them, which they do just in time. Even though James has already bitten her, the wound is clean and Edward is able to suck the venom back out of Bella without drinking all her blood. Bella spends several weeks in a hospital in Phoenix recovering from her wounds. Edward feels guilty that about the risk to her safety. Bella brings up wanting to be changed into a vampire, but Edward sternly refuses. They return to Forks and finish out the school year. Edward takes Bella to prom, despite the fact that Bella has a broken leg. The book ends on a happy note, but Bella and Edward are still at an impasse as to whether or not Bella will be turned into a vampire.^[1]

''New Moon''

In ''New Moon'', Bella gets a paper cut at the birthday party Edward's family is throwing for her, which, in a series of events, leads to a much larger gash on her forearm when she is almost attacked by Jasper. Edward loves Bella unconditionally and is willing to do anything to protect her, even leave her, which he does. He tells Bella that he doesn't love her anymore, to give her a clean break, and then leaves Forks with his family, believing that with them gone, she will finally be safe and move on. He wanders around for a few months, attempting to track Victoria, whom he believes might endanger Bella's life, but mostly just living a infinitely elongated, depressed and meaningless life.
Bella, meanwhile, withdraws into herself for several months, not allowing herself to think or feel. In a deja vu experience, she discovers that she hears Edward's voice when she is being reckless, so she acquires two motorcycles and asks her friend, Jacob Black, to help her fix them and learn to ride. As they work on the motorcycles and talk and laugh together, Bella begins to heal just the tiniest bit and she and Jacob become steadfast friends, although Jacob hopes for more. Later on Bella finds out that Jacob is a werewolf and that werewolves and vampires are mortal enemies .
After so much stress, Jacob promises Bella that they will do something fun. She suggests cliff-diving, as she is eager to hear Edward's voice again and motorcycling is no longer enough of a thrill. However, Victoria reenters the territory and Jacob must go investigate, so their "date" is canceled. Bella decides that that is no reason she shouldn't go ahead, and she jumps off the cliff into the sea by herself, not remembering that a storm is brewing and that she cannot possibly swim against the current below the cliffs. Luckily, Jacob was circling around to check on her anyway, and he hears her scream. He enters the water and drags her to shore.
When Bella gets home, to her delight and Jacob's disgust, Alice Cullen is waiting in the living room. Alice is surprised to see Bella, because she had had a vision of Bella jumping off the cliff--apparently in suicide. Edward is in Brazil when Rosalie, driven by a huge misunderstanding and borderline hate for Bella, tells him Alice had seen her jump off a cliff (hoping that he will finally move on now that Bella is dead). He tries calling Bella's house to see if this is true, and another misunderstanding involving Jacob Black occurs, leading Edward to believe that Bella really is dead. Unwilling and unable to live without her, Edward rushes to Volterra, Italy, and to the Volturi (the "royal family" of vampires) in order to ask them to kill him. When they refuse, Edward decides to force their hand by exposing himself as a vampire inside their own city, which would lead immediately to his execution.
Bella, who rushes to Italy with Alice as soon as they realize what Edward is doing, stops him in the nick of time. But even though he has not exposed himself, they still aren't safe. Edward has exposed their secret to a human (Bella) and by their laws she must die or become a vampire herself. The leader discovers from Alice that Bella will be changed soon enough--despite Edward's protests--and they are allowed to leave. Back in Forks, Bella discovers that Edward really does love her and gathers the Cullens (who have moved back) in a meeting where the family votes on whether or not Bella should be changed. The majority votes affirmatively, but they all agree that it should not happen until after she graduates from high school, in order to raise less suspicion. Edward is enraged, but later agrees to change Bella himself if she will marry him first. Later, Jacob reminds Edward that the Cullens are not allowed to bite a human without violating the treaty. ^[2]

Physical appearance

Edward is described as being impossibly handsome, beautiful and extremely godlike. His skin is very pale and ice cold, and his body has the firm density of stone. He has dark, purplish circles under his eyes, as if he is always tired (the rest of the Cullens also have these). In the sunlight his skin sparkles like millions of diamonds casting mini-rainbows everywhere, as with all other vampires. His eyes change color depending on his level of thirst; a light gold when he has just fed, gradually darkening through the golden tones and to black as his thirst progresses (like the purple, bruise-like circles under their eyes, it takes about two weeks for them to fade to pitch black). To Bella, his eyes are the most captivating thing about him, drawing her to him, because they are deep and hypnotizing and completely irresistible. During Edward's human life it is said that he had green eyes. After he feeds, his skin becomes slightly flushed, which lessens as he becomes more thirsty. His hair is described as bronze red tint, and is always in "casual disarray". Edward stands at six feet two inches and his build is slender and slightly muscular.

Romantic relationships

===Isabella Swan

Isabella Swan, "Bella," is Edward's first and only girlfriend. Edward fell for Bella despite his apprehensions and constant struggles to keep her safe. Edward has a strong attraction to Bella's blood--much more than he is attracted to other human blood--making it extremely difficult for Edward even to be in her presence. Early on in ''Twilight'', Edward struggled to stay away and ignore Bella in an attempt to protect her, but he eventually caved in and fell in love with her. He begins keeping a close watch on her to make sure she is safe, and even admits to sneaking in through her window at night to watch her sleep (and listen to her sleep-talking.) In ''New Moon'', the Volturi tell Edward that Bella is his "singer" (la tua cantante), because her blood "sings" for him.
Eventually, Edward becomes able to resist her blood and forms a romantic relationship with her. Edward loves Bella deeply and would do anything for her, even going so far as to try to commit suicide after hearing about her 'death', refusing to live without her. This experience causes Edward to be revolted at the very thought of drinking Bella's blood. But as much as he loves her, Edward refuses to change Bella into a vampire, despite her strong desire to become one, because of his strong belief that vampires are the damned and soulless and his fears that Bella would be subject to the same fate. However, at the end of ''New Moon'', Bella brings the matter to a vote with the other Cullens and it is decided that she will be turned into a vampire after graduation by Carlisle, unless she marries Edward. Then Edward, himself, will change her as soon as they are wed. In ''Eclipse'' Edward suggests to drop Bella's side of the compromise but Bella refuses saying she wants to do this in her own definition of 'right', and the two become engaged at the end of the novel.

Rosalie Hale

Rosalie was originally created into a vampire by Carlisle in hope that she would become Edward's love, but they have never shared any feelings closer than that of siblings. Although she does not desire Edward in a romantic way, she admits to being jealous of Bella, because she as a mere human was able to capture Edward's love and attention, when she, Rosalie, as a beautiful immortal, could not. Rosalie's past is very dark however, in it she always craved growing up and having beautiful children of her own and this desire has only increased in vampire form. She is jealous and angry at Bella at the same time for giving up her chance at a normal life and any chances of having children.

Tanya===
Tanya is a strawberry blond "vegetarian" vampire who lives Denali, Alaska with her family (similarly to the Cullens). It was revealed that she showed interest in Edward when they first met, but he says that he rejected her politely.

Vampire Traits

Edward, like all vampires, is much stronger and faster than humans. Edward can also read minds as a side affect of his nature within a few-mile radius. He can also cease breathing for as long as he desires when needed, since breathing is not necessary for vampires (though Edward has stated that it gets uncomfortable to stop breathing). The only exception to his ability is Isabella Swan. Like other vampires in the series, Edward is not adversely affected by sunlight, but avoids it, as it causes his skin to sparkle. Stephenie Meyer's vampires are incapable of sleeping, and receive nutrients only from blood. He and his family resist the temptation to drink human blood, a vampire's natural food source, choosing instead to drink the blood of animals located around Forks. Vampires release a venom when they bite their prey. If this venom is absorbed into a human's bloodstream, they will undergo the painful process into a vampire in approximately three days, depending on the location of the bite relative to the heart.

Movie Portrayal

Since a possible film is in the works, Meyer has mentioned her preference for actor Henry Cavill as a personal favorite to portray Edward. However, she recently announced that Cavill, now 24, is too old for the role; her personal choices are not to be older than 21 in real life. She also apologetically eliminated Gaspard Ulliel, now 22. Her current realistic choice is actor Tom Sturridge.
Meyer makes it clear, however, that if and when her books are made into feature films, she has no say as to who they end up casting in the roles of her characters; and though "eliminated" by Meyer, the French Gaspard Ulliel remains the top choice of many fans and the rally for his casting continues. However, Tom Sturridge is rising up the list, at 21.
A few of her favorites according to looks not by acting ability are Mike Vogel, Drew Fuller or Hugh Dancy.^[3]

References

1. Meyer, Stephenie. (2005) ''Twilight''. 512pp.
2. Meyer, Stephenie. (2006) ''New Moon''. 563pp.
3. http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight_movie.html

See also

Books:

★ ''Twilight''

★ ''New Moon''

★ ''Eclipse''
Main Characters:

★ Isabella Swan

★ Jacob Black

★ Carlisle Cullen

★ Mary Alice Cullen

★ Esme Cullen

★ Rosalie Hale

★ Jasper Hale

★ Emmett Cullen
Author:

★ Stephenie Meyer

External links

★ "Official website of Stephenie Meyer"

★ "Twilight Lexicon"

★ Twilight Saga, the books' official website